The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-08-24
Tom StinsOn's clark"

Tom StinSOn's clark"
Tommy" said Mrs. Stinson to her
son, early on Monday morning, as he
was cleaning his gun, preparatory to
days shooting, " l wish you would take
the horse and wagon and fetch Mrs.
Davis to do the washing to-day. It's
Thanksgiving week, and there's more
to do before Thursday than Mabel and
l can get through with"
Tom was always ready to oblige his
mother; and, besides, he knew that he
could get back with Mrs. Davis before
the other boys of his party would be
ready to set out. SO he went cheerfully
out to do as he was requested, and
few minutes later was driving in the
direction of Mrs. Davis cottage, which
was in the somewhat unpopular locality
known as the " back road"
eyes" said Mrs. Davis, "I'll be
ready in five minutes" And that
length of time had scarcely passed when
she came out, hooded and shawled for
her ride in the cool November morning.
You have good pile of wood"
remarked Tom, as he drove toward
home.
eyes, replied the widow, {" guess
there's pretty nigh enough to last me
all winter l had it of Mr.. Brown, who
owns the big wood-lot up to the North
End. | nursed his wife through her
sickness last summer and he paid me
in wood. 1 wish twas fitted for the
stove. 1 tried to sget Pete Wilkins to
saw and split it, but he never will work
if he can help it, and / am afraid the
snow will come before l get it done.
1t will be bad for me if it does"
Tommy did not reply, but seemed to
be thinking deeply for few moments,
gazing straight before him, as if trying
to sight some object between old Gray's
ears: then he suddenly urged the ami
NAL to his best speed, unmindful of the
fact that the motion of the vehicle over
the frozen road was giving Mrs. Davis
somewhat violent exercise.
They'll have fleet steeds who follow
rang out boyish voice from the road
side. And old Gray was pulled up so
suddenly as to nearly throw the good
woman from her seat.
"Hello, Will Harris" exclaimed
Tom, looking back over his shoulder.
Come ON up to our house; | want to
see you" And few minutes later he
drew up at home. Springing to the
ground, he helped Mrs. Davis down as
kindly as he would have helped his
mother, led the horse away to the sta
BILE, and, coming out, held brief con-
versation with his father in the yard.
When Will Harris came Tom con-
fded to him his plans for the days
sport. AT first Will demurred, but Tom
was an acknowledged leader and carried
the day, as usual.
g Bring your brother George and
Charlie Lewis" said Tom, as they sep
arated, " and / will see the Grant boys
that'll make six"
{" Where is mother?" said Tom, a
little later, as he entered the kitchen.
where Mrs. Davis was busy at the wash
tub and his sister Mabel had Just COM
pleted the washing of the breakfast
dishes.
I" Here, my son." answered pleas
ant voice from the dining-room.
" Put me up lunch, please, mother;
Pm off for all day." said Tom.
/" Where are you going?" asked
Mabel
Oh" he replied, " and some of
the other boys have organized ourselves
into Secret Society of Pleasure
seekers-S. S. p. S., quite an array OF
initials, you see-and we are going off
for lark
A lark?" cried his little brother
scrambling up from the floor, where he
had been playing with his pet kitten
Won't you bring me one, Tommy"
Yes" laughed Tom; " if l catch
one"
g You may get caught YOURSELF
said his sister, little nettled by his
boyish banter.
C Don't be alarmed Pm in nc
danger" he replied, passing into the
dining where his mother was
filling his basket at the sideboard.
You are not going far away
Tommy" she asked, a little anXiously
No, mother; only over on the bacl
road to have some fun with the ma
tives' {"
8" The back road!" exclaimed hi
sister, who had followed him with the
plates she was now arranging upon the
table; that is not very nice plac,
to 60"
" No." said Tom; but it can't b.
wholly bad while Mrs. Davis lives there
But" glancing out of the window
GO here are the boys. Thanks, mother,
taking the basket from her hands.
Mrs. Stinson followed him into tn
hall, and laid her hand on his arm, wit
look of inquiry in her eyes.
"Why, MOTHER" he said, "yo
really look anxious; but a fellow ca
never keep secret from YOU" and h
whispered few words in her ear, ado
ing, :" Father knows" And as tn
troubled expression gave place to on
of glad satisfaction, he opened the doc
and sprang down the steps to join hi
waiting friends, both of whom wei
furnished with lunch-baskets and axes
"Wait minute" said Tom, disal
pearing into the wood-house, to com
out Immediately bringing saw; an
the three walked quickly along the roa
over which Tom had driven earlier
the morning. A little farther on the
were joined by Charlie Lewis and ii
two Harris boys, and all continue
their course in the direction of Mr.